Hi folks,
My WRX Wagon is finally on the boat from Japan. It arrives at Southampton docks early October and I'm looking for recommendations of companies who can
- do any SVA preparation required
- MOT it
- fit Cat 1 immobiliser

Has anyone used any companies in Southampton that they are happy to recommend?
Cheers,
BIJ (Japan no more!)

Depending upon what year the car is, Be careful.

I wouldn't recommend SVA UK in Southampton as any gizmos [ boost control , turbo timer, ancillary gauges etc ] that you have on the car will be savagely cut off by hacking the wires and sometimes the gizmos disappear.

I went there once a few years back - it seemed convenient - never again !!

On cable speedo cars they change the speedo dial face to make the numbers line up with the needle - that's Ok, it works and is legal. HOWEVER, the odo still racks up Km's and then if you want to delimit the car with cable speedo by the usual reduction gear box you cannot, as the speedo face has been changed and the needle won't line up with the numbers again.

That's OK, if you have the old face, you can carefully put it back on again Mostly the original face disappears and you'll need to buy a whole new speedo. NOT IDEAL

Where are you in the country? that way I may be able to advise.

David APi

Thanks for the reply David.

It was my daily drive for about 2.5 years when in Japan, so know what it does and doesn't have. I need to get an electronic speed conversion unit which mounts behind the clock somewhere. That would increment the odometer correctly, but I want to get it reset to the correct mileage. Anyone know how to clock cars ? :norty:

I'm in Bristol but the car is coming into Southampton next month (I'd never heard of Royal Portbury until too late ... doh!). I know there is a company locally who also do SVA preparation stuff, but then I would be left with the task of somehow getting it from Southampton to Bristol without SVA/MOT/Registration, which doesn't sound cheap.

I appreciate hearing about your experience with that company. I'm still hoping to receive a recommendation as well as a "beware".

Depending upon what year the car is, Be careful.

I wouldn't recommend SVA UK in Southampton as any gizmos [ boost control , turbo timer, ancillary gauges etc ] that you have on the car will be savagely cut off by hacking the wires and sometimes the gizmos disappear.

I went there once a few years back - it seemed convenient - never again !!

On cable speedo cars they change the speedo dial face to make the numbers line up with the needle - that's Ok, it works and is legal. HOWEVER, the odo still racks up Km's and then if you want to delimit the car with cable speedo by the usual reduction gear box you cannot, as the speedo face has been changed and the needle won't line up with the numbers again.

That's OK, if you have the old face, you can carefully put it back on again Mostly the original face disappears and you'll need to buy a whole new speedo. NOT IDEAL

Where are you in the country? that way I may be able to advise.

David APi

Helps if I know the year and model, that makes a difference to where I'd go.

The trick to get the car out of the docks is to book an MOT late on the day that you pick up from Southampton. It is perfectly legal to drive an unregistered car to an MOT station. There is no restriction [ that I am aware of ] that limits the distance.................. I would make up a plate that says MOT / SVA and fit it in place of the number plates.

You may just suffer a nosy copper pulling you over and talking to you for 20 minutes about what and why, but providing that you have the insurance and an MOT appointment, he can do nothing but let you go.

You will need insurance of course but any decent insurance company will send you a certificate using just the chassis number of the car.

It is also legal to reset the speedometer to the equivalent mileage again depending upon year and model I can advise you. We supply either cable converters or electronic converters. Good price too and both are foolproof and easy to fit.

David APi

It's a '98, WRX Wagon. There are no model reports for that model, but as a true personal import, I don't need one :)

Neither am I aware of any restrictions regards how far you can travel to a MOT test station, maybe I shouldn't look into too much so that I can plead ignorance if I am stopped ;)

I've been on the phone lots this afternoon to VOSA, shipping agents, customs clearance companies etc. learning about the process. Think I will do the speedo conversion myself, don't have a warm and fuzzy feeling about that SVA company in Southampton.

Please PM me a price on an electronic speed convesion kit and any info on resetting the odo. Also need to get a Thatcham Cat 1 immobiliser on it for insurance.... PM me any recommendations you have on that too. It currently has a turbo timer fitted which may interfere with fitting of an immobiliser ???